Hearing Loss Prevention Program

The Hearing Loss Prevention Program encourages all UW organizations and departments to minimize the risk of noise-induced hearing loss to employees, researchers, students and visitors.

Essential parts of the program are to:

Identify and assess areas and activities where employees may be exposed to:

high noise levels that may exceed 85 decibels (dBA) averaged over an eight-hour period,

extreme noise levels of 115 dBA at any time (greater than one second)

extreme impact noise levels of 140 dBC (less than one second)

Reduce or control noise using engineering and administrative controls, where feasible.

Post signs at noisy areas and require hearing protectors.

Identify employees who need hearing protection.

Provide hearing protectors to employees and train them in their use.

Provide baseline and annual audiometric hearing exams to employees.

The Hearing Loss Prevention program is applicable to all University organizational units at all locations including the Seattle campus, UW Bothell, UW Tacoma, UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, University owned property, University leased space, and temporary field locations under the control of University operations staff.

Provide at least two types of hearing protectors to employees if controls cannot be implemented, and for all employees exposed to noise levels at or over 85 dBA averaged over an 8-hour work shift, greater than 115 dBA any time and 140 dBC impact noise any time.

Ensure hearing protectors are worn properly.

Post caution signs where noise may exceed 85 dBA averaged over an 8-hour work shift.

Choose the most comfortable, effective hearing protection devices that fit well. Remember that the BEST protector is one you'll wear. Earplugs are available in different sizes and shapes to fit different ear canals; earmuffs are easy to put on and take off for short-term loud noise exposure. A combination of earmuffs and earplugs may be needed.

Wear hearing protectors in posted noise areas.

Keep hearing protectors clean and replace when necessary.

Take baseline and annual audiogram tests.

Responsibilities of EH&S:

Oversee and maintain the UW Hearing Loss Prevention Program.

Monitor work sites for noise levels and inform employees and supervisors of results.

If you are already enrolled in the Hearing Loss Prevention Program, you may have your hearing tested at the UW Speech and Hearing Clinic or equivalent through EH&S

Services Available

EH&S provides the following services:

Sound level surveys and personnel monitoring for noise exposure

Quantitative assessment of noise hazards

Training

Work with employees to select proper hearing protection devices

Work with departments on engineering and administrative controls and proper area signage

Work with departments on audiometric testing

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If the 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) exposure exceeds the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 90 dBA (decibels A-weighting), feasible engineering controls must be identified and provided to reduce the exposures to 90 dBA or less.

If the 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) exposure exceeds the Action Level (AL) of 85 dBA, hearing protective devices must be provided and used by employees. Additionally, employees must be included in a hearing loss prevention program that is administered and enforced by the UW.

EH&S measures noise levels in work areas with a sound level meter to determine potential hazards, and recommends controls if needed. EH&S can also ask workers to wear noise dosimeters that determine noise exposures throughout their work shift.

7 dB less than the manufacturer assigned noise reduction rating (NRR); for example, earplugs with an NRR of 20 dB are considered to reduce employee exposures of 95 dBA TWA8 to 82 dBA TWA8

Dual hearing protection

(earplugs and earmuffs worn together)

2dB less than the higher NRR of the two protectors; for example, earplugs with an NRR of 20 dB and earmuffs with an NRR of 12 dB are considered to reduce employee exposures of 100 dBA TWA8 to 82 dBA TWA8

More Information

Glossary

changing how or when workers do their jobs, such as scheduling work and rotating workers to reduce exposures

A chart, graph, or table resulting from an audiometric test showing an individual’s hearing threshold levels as a function of frequency.

testing conducted for measuring the sensitivity of a person's hearing threshold in decibels.

standard unit used to measure sound pressure level. The decibel scale is logarithmic; every five dBA is a doubling of the sound pressure level. “A” weighting is standard weighting of the audible frequencies designed to reflect the response of the human ear to noise.